Title: Page born: April 01 2002

Aircraft Tailcodes

Tailcode	Aircraft Type	Unit	Wing	Name	Airbase	From	To
	(Y)F-117A, F-117A	Baja Scorpions		Baja Scorpions	Det. 3, AFTFC		03/01/93
ED	(Y)F-117A, F-117A	410 TS	412 TW	Baja Scorpions	Plant 42 - Palmdale	03/01/93	03/10/94
ED	(Y)F-117A, F-117A	410 FLTS	412 TW	Baja Scorpions	Plant 42 - Palmdale	03/10/94	Current
WA	F-117A	Det. 1	57 FWW	Dragon Test Team	Tonopah TR	10/05/89	10/01/91
WA	F-117A	Det. 1	57 FW	Dragon Test Team	Tonopah TR	10/01/91	06/01/92
WA	F-117A	Det. 1	57 FW	Dragon Test Team	Holloman AFB	06/01/92	02/01/93
WA	F-117A	Det. 1	57 W	Dragon Test Team	Holloman AFB	02/01/93	10/01/95
WA	F-117A	Det. 1	53 W	Dragon Test Team	Holloman AFB	10/01/95	10/01/96
OT	F-117A	Det. 1, 79 TEG	53 W	Dragon Test Team	Holloman AFB	10/01/96	Late 1998
OT	F-117A	Det. 1, 53 TEG	53 W	Dragon Test Team	Holloman AFB	Late 1998	Current
LV	A-7D, A-7K	4450th TG		Goatsuckers	Nellis AFB	TBD	TBD
	F-117A	Det 1 (Q unit)	4450 TG	Nightstalkers	Tonopah TR	10/15/79	08/82
	F-117A	4450 TS	4450 TG	Nightstalkers	Tonopah TR	08/82	10/05/89
TR	F-117A	415 TFS	37 TFW	Nightstalkers	Tonopah TR	10/05/89	10/01/91
TR	F-117A	415 FS	37 FW	Nightstalkers	Tonopah TR	10/01/91	Late 1992
TR	F-117A	415 FS	37 FW	Nighthawks	Tonopah TR	Late 1992	07/08/92
HO	F-117A	415 FS	49 FW	Nighthawks	Holloman AFB	07/08/92	07/30/93
HO	F-117A	9 FS	49 FW	Iron Knights	Holloman AFB	07/30/93	1995
HO	F-117A	9 FS	49 FW	Flying Knights	Holloman AFB	1995	Current
TR	F-117A	4451 TS	4450 TG	Grim Reapers	Tonopah TR	10/01/85	10/05/89
TR	F-117A	416 TFS	37 TFW	Ghostriders	Tonopah TR	10/05/89	10/01/91
TR	F-117A	416 FS	37 FW	Ghostriders	Tonopah TR	10/01/91	Late 1992
TR	F-117A	416 FS	37 FW	Knight Riders	Tonopah TR	Late 1992	07/30/93
HO	F-117A	416 FS	49 FW	Knight Riders	Holloman AFB	07/08/92	07/30/93
HO	F-117A	8 FS	49 FW	Black Sheep	Holloman AFB	07/30/93	Current
	F-117A	4452 TS	4450 TG	Goatsuckers	Tonopah TR	08/82	05/30/89
TR	F-117A, AT-38B	4453 TES	4450 TG	Bandits	Tonopah TR	10/01/85	10/05/89
TR	F-117A, AT-38B	417 TFTS	37 FW	Bandits	Tonopah TR	10/05/89	10/01/91
TR	F-117A, AT-38B	417 FS	37 FW	Bandits	Tonopah TR	10/01/91	07/08/92
HO	F-117A, AT-38B	417 FS	49 FW	Bandits	Holloman AFB	07/08/92	12/??/93
HO	F-117A CCTU, T-38A	7 FS	49 FW	Screamin Demons	Holloman AFB	12/??/93	06/17/99
HO	T-38A?	7 CTS	49 FW	Screamin Demons	Holloman AFB	06/17/99	Current

Example F-117A Markings

The F-117A like any other aircraft carries tail markings for identification purposes. Base, squadron, and wing alignmants, all have lead to different markings on the aircraft. Unique markings were also applied to airshow and test planes.

Test Markings

(1981?-1989?)
"USAF", Aircraft 3 digit number
This marking is from a FSD during the early 80's. This particular picture shows FSD-5 (#784) dropping ordinance during a bombing test. Dave Ferguson's name is on the cockpit, so it is assumed he was the pilot in this picture.

(1992?)
"ED"(Edwards), TAC Badge, "USAF", Aircraft 3 digit number
Markings on FSD-2 781 currently at USAF Museum. Markings were those worn at Edwards by the 410th Flight Test and Evaluation Squadron. As a note: this aircraft was donated to the museum in 1991, a year before operations at Edwards began in 1992. This aircraft was never assigned to Edwards, so these markings seem more a s a tribute than historical.

(1991)
Nellis Fin Flash, "WA"(Nellis), "USAF", Unknown Badge, Aircraft 3 digit number
This was the tail markings that the "Dragon" F-117A would wear.

Operational Markings

(1989)
"USAF", TAC Badge, Aircraft 3 digit number
Operational markings at the time of declassification in 1989.

(1989)
Aircraft #1: "TR"(Tonopah Range), ACC Badge, "37 TFW", "USAF", Aircraft 3 digit number
Aircraft #2: Same as above except "37 TFW" was replaced with "415 TFS" on one fin, and "416 TFS" on the other.
This is one of the two aircraft that was present when the F-117A was unveiled to the public and press. At the time the F-117A was assigned to the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing. Apparently this is the wing jet.The sheild is the sheild of the Air Combat Command.

(1992-199??)
"HO"(Holloman), Unknown Badge, "49 FW", "USAF", Aircraft 3 digit number
Markings of the wing jet. This picture is dated because of the lack of Fin Flash and lack of Aircraft 5 digit number.

(1992-199??)
"HO" (Holloman), ACC Badge, "USAF", Aircraft 3 digit number
Marking of operational aircraft. Again, this picture is dated because of the lack of Fin Flash and lack of Aircraft 5 digit number.

(199??-present)
Small "HO"(Holloman),"7 FS", "Screamin Demons" Fin Flash, ACC Badge, "AF Aircraft 5 digit number"
Small "HO"(Holloman),"8 FS", "Black Sheep" Fin Flash, ACC Badge, "AF Aircraft 5 digit number"
Small "HO"(Holloman),"9 FS", "Flying Knights" Fin Flash, ACC Badge, "AF Aircraft 5 digit number"
Markings of current wing jets. These pictures are dated by the Fin Flash and Aircraft 5 digit number.

(199??-present)
"HO"(Holloman), "Screamin Demons" Fin Flash, ACC Badge, "AF Aircraft 5 digit number"
"HO"(Holloman), "Black Sheep" Fin Flash, ACC Badge, "AF Aircraft 5 digit number"
"HO"(Holloman), "Flying Knights" Fin Flash, ACC Badge, "AF Aircraft 5 digit number"
Operational markings of the current F-117A's. Again, these pictures are dated by the Fin Flash and Aircraft 5 digit number. As a note: the author has recently seen picthforks added to the "Screamin Demons" Fin Flash.

(199??-present)
Small "HO"(Holloman), ACC Badge, "AF Aircraft 5 digit number"
This aircraft apparently was in the process of changing markings from the squadron jet markings to the regular operational markings. This jet may also be changing squadrons because of the removal of the squadron specific Fin Flash.

(199??-July 2001)
Small "HO"(Holloman),"49 OG"(49th Operational Group), F-117A Squadrons Fin Flash, ACC Badge, "AF Aircraft 5 digit number"
Markings of current group jet. The 49th OG is the parent unit to the 3 F-117A units and other Holloman based units. (20th FS, ) The author assumes that the 3 F-117A sqadrons are represented on this fin with the other squadrons represented on the other. It should be noted that from left to right the squadrons are the 9th, 8th, 7th. This picture is dated by the Fin Flash and Aircraft 5 digit number. As a note: consistant with the Squadron Jets, the author personally saw a 49 OG jet in 199?? without the Fin Flash and with a 3 digit number.

(July 2001-present)
Small "HO"(Holloman),"49 OG"(49th Operational Group), F-117A Squadrons Fin Flash, ACC Badge, USAF emblem, "AF Aircraft 5 digit number"
Markings of current group jet. The 49th OG is the parent unit to the 3 F-117A units and other Holloman based units. (20th FS, 49th OSS )

It should be noted that from left to right the squadrons are the 9th, 7th, 8th, 20th, and 49th OSS.

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